Rising gas prices slow SpokAnimal rescue trips and operations

The Spokane animal shelter is forced to limit rescue missions and transport due to soaring fuel costs.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:21am

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A minimalist illustration using geometric shapes and muted earth-tone colors to conceptually represent the financial strain of rising fuel costs on an animal rescue organization's ability to transport and save animals.Soaring gas prices force an animal shelter to limit its life-saving rescue missions across the region.Spokane Today

Rising gas prices are forcing the Spokane animal shelter SpokAnimal to reconsider when and where they can conduct rescue missions, limiting their ability to help animals in need from rural communities and other states. The shelter's staff and volunteers are making fewer long-distance trips to pick up cats and dogs due to the financial strain of high fuel costs, which are also impacting the shelter's transport van used for its mobile vaccine clinic.

Why it matters

SpokAnimal plays a vital role in rescuing and caring for animals in the Spokane region and surrounding areas, often being the only option for small rural communities. The shelter's reduced ability to travel for rescue missions due to gas prices could leave many animals without access to the help they desperately need.

The details

SpokAnimal staff typically drive out of town a couple times a month to pick up animals from rural communities and other states, but those trips have slowed or stopped because of rising fuel costs. The shelter's transport van, used to move animals and operate a mobile vaccine clinic, has also become significantly more expensive to run, with the cost to fill the diesel tank increasing by around $300. Shelter leaders say they plan to continue rescue trips when possible, but acknowledge the challenges may persist as long as fuel prices remain high.

  • SpokAnimal staff previously traveled long distances to help rescue animals two to three times a month.
  • The shelter's transport van costs $400 to $500 to fill up now, roughly $300 more than it used to cost.

The players

SpokAnimal

A Spokane animal shelter that plays a vital role in rescuing and caring for animals in the region and surrounding areas.

Nichole Payton

A SpokAnimal staff member who has worked at the shelter for 12 years and previously traveled long distances to help rescue animals, but now must limit how far she goes due to rising gas prices.

Dori Peck

The Executive Director of SpokAnimal, who says the financial strain of high fuel costs is forcing the shelter to reconsider when and where rescue missions can happen.

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What they’re saying

“With gas prices going high, I can't help out where I used to.”

— Nichole Payton, SpokAnimal staff member

“It's heartbreaking, because we know on the other end, in all these places, these animals don't have other options. We basically step in and we help so many of these small rural communities in just the states that surround us. We make a huge difference.”

— Dori Peck, Executive Director of SpokAnimal

“The price of gas makes it so that we cannot travel to go help anywhere. I mean thinking about it right now makes me want to cry because we can't even go to Yakima to save any animals.”

— Nichole Payton, SpokAnimal staff member

What’s next

Shelter leaders plan to continue rescue trips when possible, but acknowledge the challenges may persist as long as fuel prices remain high.

The takeaway

The rising cost of gas is putting a significant strain on the operations of the Spokane animal shelter SpokAnimal, forcing them to limit their ability to rescue animals from rural communities and transport them to safety. This highlights the broader impact of economic factors on the vital work of animal welfare organizations and the difficult decisions they must make when faced with financial constraints.